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ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – April 9, 2014 11 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Commissioner Holewa moved and Commissioner Zimmerman seconded a motion to <br />recommend approval of Ordinance Number 14-004 in Planning Case 14-001 for an <br />amendment to Section 1315.01 – Zoning Map of the Arden Hills Zoning Code as presented <br />in the April 9, 2014, report to the Planning Commission. The motion carried 5-1 (Jones <br />opposed). <br /> <br /> <br />D. Planning Case 14-002; Zoning Code Amendment – Conservation District Rezoning <br />– Public Hearing <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler stated that the Planning Commission is being asked to consider <br />approval of Ordinance 14-005 in Planning Case 14-002 for an amendment to Section 1315.01 <br />(Official Zoning Map) of the Arden Hills City Code. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler reported that on November 25, 2013, the City Council approved <br />Ordinance 2013-010, which established a new Conservation District in the Zoning Code. Since <br />then, staff has evaluated parcels within the City that should be rezoned as Conservation District <br />based on the purpose of this zoning classification. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler indicated the Conservation District is meant to be applied to the <br />Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS). While the property is now under federal ownership <br />and being leased to the Minnesota National Guard, the City recognized that portions of AHATS <br />could be sold to private parties in the future and developed based on the underlying zoning <br />classification. The main purpose of the Conservation District is to provide a “holding zone” for <br />these lands to ensure that any future development on AHATS maintains a sustainable level of <br />public expenditures for utilities and services. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler explained that AHATS is comprised of a total of eight separate <br />parcels. Staff has identified four of these parcels as being appropriate for rezoning as <br />Conservation District at this time. These parcels approximately cover the area bound by County <br />Road I on the north, Lexington Avenue on the east, Highway 96 on the south, and on the west, by <br />a line extending directly north from Snelling Avenue North to County Road I. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler commented that the remaining four parcels are located on the <br />western half of AHATS, adjacent to the TCAAP redevelopment site and the Rice Creek North <br />Regional Trail. The Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department is currently working with <br />the federal government to have additional land on these four parcels transferred to the County to <br />be incorporated into their park system. Specifically, these acquisitions would expand the existing <br />boundaries of the Rice Creek North Regional Trail property and add a wildlife corridor along the <br />eastern boundary of the TCAAP site extending south to Highway 96. These additional lands were <br />identified in the Amendment to the Rice Creek Regional Trail Master Plan, which was approved <br />by the City Council on June 24, 2013. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler explained that following the completion of the land transfer, the City <br />will work with Ramsey County to rezone the property acquired by the County as Parks and Open